US + the World Flashcards
Isolationism overview 1920-45
• the 1920 election rejected ‘Wilsonism’ —> between interwar years (1920 to 1941) most Americans supported the ideas of isolationism
• 1930s - US reluctantly engaged in international affairs
• Even during WWII isolationism remained strong + the US didn’t get involved until 1940-41 when the direct aggression of the Japanese
• Roosevelt’s declaration of war in 1941 marked the end of isolationism - in 1945 the US accepted its role as a military-industrial superpower + the leader of the ‘free world’
Extent of isolationism in 1920s
• American foreign policy could never be fully isolationist = Us too connected to world economy + too much interest in Latin America + in the Pacific
• 1924 = American financiers were heavily involved in providing loans + restricutiring Germany’s debt through the Dawes Plan
• 1929 = Young plan extended the time for Germany to repay debts
• American policy far from isolationist in the far east = open door policy in China
• 1921 Washington Naval Conference
• 1928 Kellog-Brian’s Pact = an idealistic agreement to renounce war + encourage global peace
• Refused to join League of Nations = still remaining partly isolationist —> Republican president had little interest in foreign affairs = Harding + Coolidge focused on politics + economy of US
Extent of isolationism in 1930s
• 1930s = preoccupied with domestic issues + problems of Great Depression = Roosevelt moved quickly to make US policy in Latin America less intervention
• Dollar diplomacy gone + Good Neighbour policy began = promised friendship + non-intervention in Latin America
• 1935-38 - strong support for Ludlow Amendment to forbid the declaration of war without first gaining the consent of the people in the national referendum —> Roosevelt + his allies in congress worked hard to block it = it never passed with it being defeated by 209 votes to 188 = although unsuccessful shows how many Americans were in favour of keeping out of foreign wars
• Congress passed Neutrality Act in 1935 = commuting the US to policy of non-intervention in foreign wars + preventing sale of munitions to countries involved —> three further Neutrality Afts were passed in 1936, 1937 + 1939
End of isolationism
• in his first time Roosevelt focused on economic recovery + opposition to the new deal
• 1937 - the worsening international situation was putting pressure on Roosevelt to respond
• 1937 - Roosevelt’s Quarantine Speech in Chicago = calling on peace loving nation to oppose aggression by breaking off relations with the aggressors + placing them in ‘quarantine’ = speech clearly aimed at Germany, Japan and Italy but Roosevelt spoke in general terms
Approach to war
• 1937-1940 = international situations worsened in the far east + Europe
• American attitudes became openly anti-Japanese after Japan invaded China in 1937 + the sinking of USS Panay in December 1937
• 1940 - Japan announced the Great East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere = claiming leadership of a bloc of Asian nations free of any western influence —> this was a direct challenge to US interests
• 1940 Japan signed the Tripartite Pact with Germany
• US remained neutral when war broke out but a one-sided neutrality = American aid would be given to Britain as long as they could pay
• Roosevelt persuaded congress to pass a new Neutrality Act to allow arms shipment to Britain —> January 1940 he asked congress for $2 billion in defence spending
• The ‘special relationship’ between Roosevelt + Churchill = 1940 Roosevelt finalised the Destoryers for Bases agreement = 50 surplus warships in return for leases on Britain bases in Canada + Caribbean —> he also announced conscription for US armed forces (first time ever in peacetime) = provoked backlash from isolationists
